Dame Arlene Phillips receives the Freedom of the City of London

Olivier Award-winning choreographer and theatre director, Dame Arlene Phillips, has received the Freedom of the City of London, in recognition of her outstanding contribution to dance and support for charitable causes.

Widely recognised as a pioneer of jazz dance in the UK, she developed her signature style inspired by American Modern Jazz and taught at Dance Centre, Pineapple Dance Studios, and numerous stage schools, including Italia Conti and Arts Educational.

From creating the dance group, Hot Gossip, in the 1970s to working with stars from film, television, and theatre, Arlene has become a household name. Celebrated for choreographing hit West End and Broadway musicals, Hollywood films, and music videos, her expertise extends through to her television work as a dance show judge and presenter. In 2021, Dame Arlene was honoured as a DBE for services to dance and charity.

Her recent projects include Guys & Dolls at Bridge Theatre; the new musical, I Wish You Well, at the Edinburgh Fringe; the recent UK tour of Grease, which followed on from two successful runs at Dominion Theatre, as well as celebrating 38 years of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Starlight Express in Germany as choreographer and director, while also being creative dramaturg on the London revival of the show.

Speaking after her Freedom ceremony, Dame Arlene Phillips, said: “I’m very honoured to be recognised by being given the Freedom of the City of London and it is truly a privilege to join such an eminent list of recipients. Although I was born in Manchester, London is where I started my career as a choreographer and it has been my home for over 60 years. Thank you to everyone involved, especially, my nominators, Chris Hayward and Keith Bottomley, who I had the pleasure to work with when we launched ‘Let’s Dance!’ at the Old Bailey earlier this year.”